Chapter 56 – The Knockoff Phone is Awesome

All of these changes happened too suddenly, catching many people off guard.

This naturally included Xiao Cheng. When he was pinned under Lu Xingwang’s foot, he felt a somewhat fierce intent to kill. It was the suppression of absolute power, and this incredible force came from a youth many years younger, just a teenager. When the dust settled, Zuo Qingshan, who had rushed to the scene, saw a rather chaotic situation.

Major General was holding a knife, full of momentum, and he asked, “Where is Xiao Cheng?”

Lu Xingwang stood in his place. Before him, there was a deep hole. The materials used to make the A5 battleship were renowned as the most impenetrable stronghold. Some people had claimed that even if a shell hit it, it wouldn’t cause any substantial damage. However, such a battleship had a massive hole now, created by Lu Xingwang.

Lu Xingwang said, “He escaped.”

Major General’s eyes widened, and he asked, “How did he escape?”

“He had teleportation spells on him, probably used a high-priced banned technique. These types of techniques generally come at a great cost,” Lu Xingwang briefly explained. He then turned to look at the pit on the ground and continued, “Although he escaped, he didn’t leave unscathed.”

General finally examined the pit closely and saw the traces of crimson blood. It was clear that Xiao Cheng hadn’t left unharmed, and he must have sustained severe injuries.

Zuo Qingshan said, “Even if he weren’t injured, he left this warship behind. It took him a lot of effort to build this warship. Moreover, there’s his followers who were captured by us. This time, he’s severely weakened, and I think, for the time being, Xiao Cheng won’t be causing any more trouble.”

Lu Xingwang nodded.

Zuo Qingshan then noticed that Lu Xingwang’s condition and facial expression were not good. While he didn’t know the exact reason for this and under what conditions his divine power awakened, it was obvious that it was not a good thing. Even the usually thick-skinned general couldn’t help but express his concern, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xingwang lifted his eyelids and gave him a glance.

Zuo Qingshan noticed that Lu Xingwang hadn’t moved from the moment he arrived until now. A somewhat frightening suspicion rose in his heart. He took the initiative to step towards Lu Xingwang, and then he heard the young man’s somewhat subdued voice in his ear, “Don’t linger in battle. Return immediately. Contact your subordinates and go to the palace now. The Crown Prince may be planning a rebellion.”

In just a few words, Lu Xingwang spoke quickly and heavily, covering all the important matters within his reach.

Zuo Qingshan listened and then looked up, “What about you? You…”

His words weren’t finished when he saw the youth, who had been standing upright, suddenly swaying and collapsing. The effects of his weakened state and the strain of using such powerful and taxing divine power were overwhelming, and not even a robust immortal’s body could withstand it.

The military doctor behind also hurriedly arrived and said, “Your Highness!”

Lu Xingwang had really fainted. Zuo Qingshan stood in place, holding him up, but his expression was very solemn.

The information contained in what His Highness said before losing consciousness was too significant. Zuo Qingshan would need some time to digest it. Since he wanted to finish that sentence before losing consciousness, it meant that Lu Xingwang was already aware of his physical condition. He knew that the situation after he fainted would be unpredictable, so he entrusted everything to Zuo Qingshan.

The Crown Prince planning a rebellion, these few words carried the weight of a mountain.

How did His Highness know for sure? How did he come to that conclusion? Zuo Qingshan didn’t know about the conversation between His Highness and Xiao Cheng on the warship, but if Lu Xingwang said the Crown Prince was planning a rebellion, it couldn’t just be baseless.

All of this happened too suddenly, and it didn’t give him the time to process and handle it properly. In the past, he might have lost his composure and been unable to control his anger, but now, everything around him was chaotic, the advice of his Highness echoed in his ears, his subordinates were watching him, and he was the backbone of the entire army.

If he panicked, the entire army would be in chaos.

Zuo Qingshan took a deep breath, opened the communicator, and instructed his adjutant, “Issue the order. The entire army is to prepare for an immediate return. Additionally, dispatch a small team to coordinate with the other planets and negotiate the return of the merchants. Send them invitations and negotiate through the International Space Station. If a resolution can’t be reached, come back without resorting to force.”

The adjutant inquired, “General, we just achieved a major victory. Are we returning now?”

Zuo Qingshan was resolute, “Yes, right now.”

“Furthermore…” He thought for a moment and ordered, “Immediately establish communication with the ground control tower. Check the current situation in the palace and get in touch with Deputy Zhang and the others. Have him go to the palace to protect His Majesty immediately. Make sure all the troops in the camp are ready at a moment’s notice. If there’s any sign of trouble, report to me immediately. The main goal is to ensure the safety of His Majesty, understood?”

The adjutant finally sensed the gravity of the situation and said, “Yes!”

After the victory in the battle against Xiao Cheng, the disgrace of the interstellar pirate spread far and wide. Especially with the recovery of the divine power of Third Prince Lu Xingwang, who single-handedly destroyed Xiao Cheng’s lair, the various achievements stacked together made him truly the people’s choice, the hope of the masses. However, while the news was still sealed and hadn’t spread to the public, the palace was already in a state of panic.

The Empress collapsed on the ground, her eyes wide in disbelief. She muttered to herself, “How is this possible? How is this possible? How did he recover…”

The Crown Prince was equally frantic, like an ant on a hot pan.

The Empress gripped her own hand, and her well-manicured nails were almost digging into her flesh. Her face was deathly pale, and she thought of the message Xiao Cheng had just sent her, which made her feel anxious.

The Crown Prince approached and said, “Mother, you don’t need to be so alarmed. Even if Lu Xingwang has recovered, what can he do? I’m still the Crown Prince, and he can’t stir up any waves.”

The Empress gently shook her head, “No… you don’t understand.”

The Crown Prince looked puzzled, “Why don’t I understand?”

With things having reached this point, the Empress couldn’t hide it from him anymore. Even if she wanted to keep it secret now, she couldn’t.

“My son… you are not His Majesty’s child,” the Empress finally revealed the long-buried secret that had been in her heart for so many years. Tears rolled down her cheeks, “I and Xiao Cheng, we were childhood friends arranged by our families for an eventual marriage. After we turned five, which is the age when most children awaken their divine powers, he had no innate divine power and was ostracized by his family. I often secretly helped him. Later, he was driven out of his family, and I had known him since my childhood. Of course, I couldn’t just stand by…”

It was a rather distant story, and the people in the story were now completely different from what they once were.

The child she was carrying was actually a mistake, but she didn’t regret it, and neither did Xiao Cheng. After so many years of living in fear and anxiety, it seemed that the truth was now exposed, and she was surprisingly relieved.

The Crown Prince was extremely shocked, and he shivered all over. “Mother, what are you talking about!”

Tears welled up in the Empress’s eyes. She held her child’s clothes and whispered, “My son, now that Lu Xingwang knows the truth, he won’t spare us. Let’s escape, let’s leave the palace now.”

The Crown Prince couldn’t believe how things had developed like this.

But he was always a ruthless person, and he couldn’t give up wealth and glory. The more dire the situation, the calmer he became. He could even help his mother analyze the situation, “Are you panicking? Even if we can escape, what about Grandfather? What about the people at home? He’s the current Prime Minister. If you and I run away, what will you do about him?”

The Empress was stumped for words.

When she first received the news, she was in a state of chaos and didn’t think about many things. But at this moment, after the Crown Prince’s reminder, she realized the severity and difficulty of the situation.

A determined and somewhat ruthless look appeared in the Crown Prince’s eyes, “Let’s contact Grandfather. Let’s secure our bargaining chips before Lu Xingwang returns.”

The Empress hesitated, “When you say bargaining chips…”

“Yes!” The Crown Prince knelt down and held his mother’s hand. In a somber tone, he said, “Mother, we have no other choice now. If Lu Xingwang returns, we are doomed. But right now, we still have a fighting chance. Do you want to see me die, see Grandfather, see the entire family die?”

The Empress has also accumulated quite a bit of power over the years.

Although she doesn’t hold significant military authority, it’s fortunate that a large portion of the military is now following General Left Qingshan into battle. Currently, with the remaining troops stationed in the military, their Prime Minister’s residence can still maintain a balance of power.

She knew that a rebellion was not an ideal solution, but given the circumstances, and the fact that Xiao Cheng was overthrown, and the discovery of her secret, she and the Crown Prince had been forced into this situation. They had no choice but to fight, even if it meant being backed into a corner. She wasn’t afraid of death, but she couldn’t disregard the lives of others.

Gradually, her determination solidified, and she stood up. Her phoenix gown shimmered in the lamplight. The Empress spoke, “Very well, time is of the essence. Zuo Qingshan might already be on his way back. If we’re going to act, it must be tonight, or it might be too late.”

The Crown Prince’s entire body trembled with excitement. The throne he had hoped for over the years seemed almost within reach now. He nodded vigorously, “Agreed!”

On June 23rd, the 29th year of Star year, an ordinary day for the common people, marked a turbulent night for the Stsn star Imperial Family. It was also a day that would be recorded in history as a turning point for the royal family.

On the other side, in City A:

The weather was gloomy, and heavy rain poured outside. Even though it wasn’t his scheduled vacation day, Jian Changjia had arrived at the hospital. He didn’t manage to secure the fastest ticket, so he had to take a high-speed train to come back. Dark circles appeared under his eyes, and he looked somewhat haggard. As he entered the hospital corridor, he saw his mother sitting outside the ward.

Jian Changjia walked over and saw his mother. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke softly, “Mom.”

Shen Meina raised her head, her eyes were slightly red, but she tried to wipe her face in a somewhat embarrassed manner. She forced a smile and tried to use a light tone, saying, “You’re back already? Did the school approve your leave so quickly? It’s raining like this, and you came back in the rain. You really…”

Jian Changjia pressed his lips together, “I had nothing pressing to attend to, so I came back.”

In reality, he wasn’t here because his school break was approved. Upon learning about his brother’s illness, he couldn’t think of much else, and he rushed back as soon as he could. If it weren’t for the weather causing issues with flight reservations, he would have been here yesterday.

Shen Meina let out a sigh and advised, “Take care of yourself, alright?”

Jian Changjia nodded and then looked towards the ward, asking, “How is he? How is Xiao Mei doing?”

Shen Meina turned to look inside the ward. She slightly opened the door, allowing Jian Changjia to enter. The ward was a separate suite, and there was even a living room and kitchen outside. Further inside was where Jian Mei rested. The room smelled faintly of soup.

Jian Changjia took a few steps inside and finally stopped in front of the ward’s door. Looking inside, he saw the child lying on the hospital bed. The child seemed to be asleep, but appeared quite weak.

Shen Meina whispered, “I don’t know why. He was perfectly fine just a couple of days ago. The doctor said we should keep him here for observation, but last night, he suddenly had a high fever, and his cell count increased…”

As she spoke, it seemed like tears were about to fall from her eyes.

Jian Changjia frowned and asked, “Was there no warning signs?”

Shen Meina shook her head and replied, “None. He was doing well before. Since his exams are coming up, he even told me last month that if he did well in the exams, he wanted a raise in his pocket money. During the holidays, he wanted to visit his grandfather’s house. He even said he wanted to pick you up from the train station when you return…”

The room fell silent, with only the sounds of medical equipment in the background.

Acute leukemia could take a person’s life at any moment. Despite medical advancements, for such a relentless and stubborn illness, there was still no cure.

While the two were talking, the person on the hospital bed woke up.

Jian Mei turned his gaze to the source of the sound and noticed someone standing outside. He wanted to speak but his voice was weak. He tentatively asked, “Brother?”

Even with his weak voice, Jian Changjia still heard it.

The boy quickly opened the door and walked in. He sat down by the hospital bed and replied, “Yes, it’s me.”

“How did you come back?” Jian Mei blinked his eyes, looking at his brother, and smiled, “I’m not dreaming, right?”

Jian Changjia, who hadn’t seen his brother for a long time, felt like his brother had gained a bit of weight over these years. These two brothers were bound to talk privately when they met, so Shen Meina stepped aside. She told Jian Changjia, “There’s another bed in the next room. Mom will get you a bowl of noodles to eat, and you can rest for a while.”

Jian Changjia responded with a word, and Shen Meina left.

Once she left, only the two brothers were left in the room. Jian Changjia scrutinized his brother from head to toe. Being a straightforward person, he wasn’t good at expressing concern and could only awkwardly say, “Why did you get sick again? Can’t you take care of yourself?”

Jian Mei seemed to see through his insincere words, smiled gently, and replied, “Well, I’m sorry.”

It was a simple phrase, but it unexpectedly made Jian Changjia feel a bit sad. He let out a soft snort and said, “There’s nothing to be sorry for. Just take good care of yourself.”

Jian Changjia was somewhat anxious about Jian Meie’s silence.

After a short while, the child on the sickbed said, “Big Brother.”

Jian Changjia looked at him and replied, “Yes?”

“Mama seems really sad recently,” Jian Meie softly said. “It’s great that you’re back. If you have the time, please spend more time with her.”

Jian Changjia felt a sense of discomfort.

Jian Mei sat up against the pillow, listening to the sounds of cooking from outside. “Although Dad and Mom talk about sending me abroad for study, I don’t want to go. Don’t let their usual busyness deceive you; they’re both quite lonely, especially Mom. Sometimes when I’m not at home, Auntie often tells me she likes to tidy up our rooms when she comes back.”

Although she was sometimes overly talkative and her way of expressing emotions was quite clumsy, she was indeed a woman who lacked a sense of security.

Jian Mei spoke slowly, with a calm yet gentle tone. “Big Brother, don’t blame her. Actually, Mom loves you a lot too. In the future, if you can, please come back to see her more often. Actually…”

Jian Changjia abruptly interrupted her, “That’s enough.”

The boy, who was always tough and strong, turned his face away to hide his slightly reddened eyes. Jian Changjia tried to make his voice sound normal as he said, “I don’t want to hear it. If I want to accompany you, I will do it myself. I don’t want to be nagged all alone.”

Jian Mei smiled gently.

Jian Changjia raised his voice a bit, “Did you hear me?”

Jian Mei nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll try.”

Outside, Shen Meina was asking Jian Changjia if he wanted an egg with his noodles. He stood up, sniffed, and then answered affirmatively, asking for an egg. He turned around and said, “What about you? Are you hungry?”

Jian Mei shook his head and replied, “I’m not hungry.”

Strictly speaking, he didn’t have much appetite now, but he didn’t want to make Jian Changjia feel too sad. So he added, “But I’ll have an egg too.”

Jian Changjia commented, “You have such a small appetite, that’s why you’ve become so thin.”

Jian Mei smiled and, for the first time in a while, he felt a bit of energy. However, he still had some lingering worries. When his condition worsened last night, the pain was excruciating, making him wish he could end it all to stop the suffering. Yet, he kept remembering a promise. He remembered, DaZhuang ge once promised him that after he finish his business trip, he would come to see him.

“Brother,” Jian Mei opened his mouth and said, “Could you help me find my phone? I want to take a look.”

Jian Changjia responded and went to the living room to retrieve the phone, which should be out of battery. However, when he brought it back from outside, he couldn’t help but comment, “Your old phone is really something. It’s been working for so many years, and why is it heating up? Is it about to explode?”

Jian Mei was also a bit surprised and said, “Well… it shouldn’t be. It’s of good quality.”

Upon receiving the phone, Jian Mei initially thought it was an exaggeration, but when he held it in his hand, the noticeable warmth did surprise him. He knew that the phone hadn’t heated up in the past two years, but for some reason, it was unusually hot now. This rare occurrence gave Jian Mei an ominous feeling.

After a few stifled coughs, he unlocked the screen, opened WeChat, and scrolled through a few pages. Jian Mei’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly, and he remained in that position.

Jian Changjia noticed something was wrong and asked, “What’s going on?”

Jian Mei remained stiff for a long time, then shook his head slowly, his voice somewhat somber, “Nothing.”

Jian Changjia was puzzled, “Are you feeling unwell again?”

Jian Mei’s appearance was far from being ‘nothing.’ Right now, he look completely dazed, and if it weren’t for the fact that he was just checking his WeChat, Jian Changjia would have thought Jian Mei had received a life-threatening notice.

“No,” Jian Mei forced a somewhat strained smile, “I’m fine.”

He looked down at the overheated phone. On the screen, the top contact had disappeared, and WeChat’s friend search showed nothing. If it weren’t for the lingering warmth in his palm, reminding him that all of this was real, he might have thought it was just a dream, a dream he had concocted many years ago while lying in a hospital bed.

Translator’s Note-Guys don’t forget to support and comment your views(^-^)

Hope my Diwali gift brought a smile. Wishing you all simple joys and, above all, good health.